Casting and finishing apparatus for curved stereotype printing-plates



H. A. W. WOOD. CASTING AN-D FINISHING APPARATUS FOR GURVED STEREOTYPEPRINTINGIPLATESA APPLICATION FILED HARD ll. 1915- RENEWED MAY 16.19l9.

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Patented Mar. 2, 1920.

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H. A, W. WOOD.

CASHNG AND FINISHING APPARATUS FOR cums STEREOTYPE PRINTING PLATES.

APPHCATION FILED MAR. H, I915 RENEWED MAY 16.1919. '11,,$2,Q,531 wPatented Mar. L920.

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cAsIIIIe AND FINISHING APPARATUS m CURVED STEREOTYPE PRINTING PIAIIzs.

APPLICATION FILED iii/IR. HI EH5. RENEWED IIIAY I6. 9l9.

Patented Mar. 2, 1920'.

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HENRYA. wrsn WOOD, for New Venn, n. Y., Assrenon rowoon NEWSPAPERMACHINERY CORPORATION, or new YORK, N. Y., A conrcnarron or we- GIN IA.

CASTING AND FINISHING APPARATUS FOR CURVED STEREOTYPE ERINTING-PLATES.

Application filed March 11, 1915, Serial No. 13,733.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY A. W'Isn WOOD,

a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county ofNew York and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Castingand Finishing Apparatus for Curved Stereotype Printing-Plates, ofwhichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to the manufacture of curved stereotype printingplates and particularly those plates known as tubular plates in whicheach one constitutes a complete cylinder, with the exception of a narrowgap the width of the margin.

The principal objects of the invention are to provide means whereby suchplates can be ejected from the casting box, preferably by power, withoutseparating the parts of the casting box; to provide means wherebyalthough the plates are moved out of the casting box longitudinally, yetribs can be formed on the plates during the casting operation; toprovide means whereby these ribs will be shaved on the inside during theejection of the cast plate; to provide means whereby during the shavingoperation the plate will be backed up by the surface against which itis'cast, at least at a point opposite the shaving blade. and will havethe matrix on which it is cast located between it and this backingsurface, so that the printingsurface cannot be marred; to provide meansfor ejecting the matrix with the cast plate; to provide means forcutting the tail from the plate after it is ejected and without firstgiving it any motion except that required for ejecting it; to provideimprovements in the mechanism for accomplishing these results; and toprovide an improved form of tubular plate in which the ribs on theinside are so placed. as greatly to strengthen the plate and yet becapable of being shaved off in a simple manner so as to provide acylindrical bearing surface inside.

The invention also involves other features of invention which willappear hereinafter.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 isa side view of a casting and finishing apparatus constructed in.accord-1 Specification of Letters Patent.

Renewed. may 16, 191.9. Serial No. 297,585.

ance with this invention with parts in section on a central verticalplane,

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the same;

Fig. 3 is a plan;

Fig. 4 is a. sectional view of the tail cutter on line 4l of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 55 of Fig. 2 showingthe casting box itself in plan;

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view showing the position of the plate whenejected and resting on the top of the core;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the pouring sheet, and

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the cast plate.

Although capable of use for other forms of castings, the invention isparticularly designed for making tubular stereotype plates, as has beenstated above. As ordinarily constructed. these plates are made in a moldhaving a cylindrical core and it is necessary to remove them from thecasting boX by hand, turning the core over into horizontal position forthat purpose. Theyv are then placed in a boring machine in whi h theinner surface of the plate is turned smooth in order to fit the platecylinder of the printing press. This boring operation is slow becausethe entire inner surface of the plate must be dressed ofi by it. It hasnot been possible to castthese tubular plates with circumferential ribs.or finishing strips, on their inner surfaces because, obviously. theycould not be removed from the core in that case without serious andexpensive complications. The use of longitudinal ribs is also preventedby the fact that this would make the plates weak between the ribs andfurthermore the turning of the interior surfaces of longitudinal ribswould be a more delicate operation than is the case with thecircumferential ribs on the ordinary semicylindrical plate.

In order to solve these difliculties I make the plate with one or morehelical ribs on its interior surface extending from end to end. This isaccomplished by using a core having one or more helical grooves on itsexterior throughout its entire length. This not only has the result ofpermitting the finishing of the interior of the plate by a simpleoperation, because only a small amount of metal has to be removed, butit also has several other advantages. In the first place the plate canbe removed from the core by a relative turning motion between the coreand casting box. Furthermore, while the plate is being ejected in thisway the shaving operation can be performed simply by the use of a bladeon the core itself. In this way manual handling of the casting isavoided and in fact the time usually taken for removing the casting andputting it into the finishing or boring machine is saved. Furthermore,the matrix can be left in contact with the plate while it is beingejected and finished, thus protecting the plate from contact with anyhard metal on its printing surface.

By the use of this invention, furthermore, the tail cutting operationcan be performed in a comparatively simple manner without handling theplate between the casting and the tail cutting operations. Although I Pprefer to use mechanism for ejecting the plate by power, it is to beunderstood that it can be turned out by hand in a'similar manneraccording to this invention.

In the form of the invention shown in the drawings, a cylindricalcasting box 10 is shown'mounted in vertical position and having a waterchamber 11. Concentrically mounted with respect to the casting box atthe bottom thereof is a vertical standard 12 which also is fixed inposition and serves as a bearing for the vertical cylindrical core 13.The space between the core and standard forms an annular cooling chamberfor the core, water being admitted thereto through a pipe 14. An outletpipe 15 is shown. The upper end of the core 13 is provided with a bushedbearing 16 and the lower end with a packed bearing 17 to pre ventleakage of water.

The top of the core is made of concave conical shape for receiving thechips made by a shaving blade 18 mounted on the core. The core isprovided with a continuous helical groove 19 on its'cylindrical surfaceextending all the way from the bottom to the top. This groove is for thepurpose of casting a helical rib a on the plate A which is cast in thismold. It will be understood, of course, that the invention is notlimited to a single groove and rib. At the bottom the space between thecore and casting box is closed by a circular casting ring 20.

The casting box is provided with a vertical longitudinal groove 21 whichis filled by the matrix bar 22. This matrix bar is provided withopposite grooves 23 for receiving the edges of the matrix M and pouringsheet P. It will be noticed that this matrix bar projects a shortdistance above the top of the casting box. The pouring sheet is providedwith strips 79 which fit on the top of the matrix for the purpose offorming a clearing space a for receiving the tail cutter as will appearhereinafter.

Mounted on and supported by the wall of the casting box 10 are bearings24 for a driving shaft 25 on which is loosely mounted a driving pulley26. A clutch 27 is provided for connecting this pulley in an obviousmanner with the shaft and driving the shaft. A treadle is provided foroperating the clutch and starting the shaft to operate. On this shaft isa worm 28 meshing with a worm wheel 29 which is fixed to the lower endof the core that projects below the casting. chamber so that upon theconnection of the pulley with the shaft this worm wheel and core will berotated. The teeth of the clutch are arranged slanting on one side andthe core can be driven in one direction only, so as to eject the plate.

The shaft 25 by means of miter gears drives a vertical shaft 31 which inturn drives a horizontal shaft 32 mounted on a bracket 34 which is castwith the casting box 10 and extends upwardly therefrom. On this shaft 32is a worm 33 for driving a worm wheel 35. T his worm wheel is pro videdwith a hub 36 and is capable of rotating independently of the hub. Onthe hub is a spring-pressed pin 37 for entering a socket 38 in the wheelso that the hub will be rotated with the wheel. The pin has a bevelflange 39 on the upper end thereof. Above the hub of the worm wheel is asliding cam 40 having a beveled edge adapted to engage under the head ofthe pin and raise the pin. This cam is supported on spring rods 41mounted in bearings on the bracket and these spring rods normally forcethe cam into the position shown in Figs. 1 and 3 in which it raises thepin 37 out of engagement with the socket 38 in the worm wheel. For thepurpose of withdrawing this cam a shaft 42 is provided on the brackethaving arms 43 which engage pins 44 on the rods 41. One of the arms onthe shaft42 is shown as being connected by a chain or the like 45 with ahand hold 46. By pulling down on the chain the rods 41 are withdrawn andthe pin 37 is allowed to descend so that upon the next rotation of theworm wheel the hub thereof will be carried around with it.

Journaled in bearings 47 on the bracket 34 is a vertical shaft 48. Thisshaft supports and rotates with the hub member 36 so that when this isin rotation the shaft also will rotate. On this shaft is a looseintermediate gear 49 which is driven by a gear 50 on the shaft 31 andmeshes with a planetary pinion 51 on a vertical shaft 52. This shaft iscarried by a carrier 53 rotatable around the shaft 48. This shaft 52 isprovided with a tail cutter 54 in the form of a circular saw.

This is located at such a point that it will engage in the space a onthe plate when the same is elevated into the dotted line position shownin Fig. 1 and will then rotate around the same and cut off the tail. Acircular ring 55 is provided on the lower surface of the carrier 53 toreceive the tail end of a plate as it is elevated, guiding it intoproper position, and holding it. Hooks 57 are providcd for supportingthe slug after it is severed.

The operation of the device is as follows :A matrix M is inserted intothe casting box with its free ends held in the grooves 23 of the matrixbar 22. A pouring sheet P with its strips 29 is fitted on the top of thematrix, the open space of the pouring sheet registering of course withthe matrix bar. Metal is poured into the casting chamher in the usualway. *When the plate is properly cooled the treadle 30 is depressed,causing the clutch to engage and the shaft 25 to revolve. This of courserevolves the core. The first eiiect of this revolution of the core is tocause the plate to rise in the casting box longitudinally. This is dueto the fact that the helical rib a on the plate enters the helicalgroove in the surface of the core and the plate is held by the castingbar from rotating with the core. Consequently, the rotation of the coreforces the plate out longitudinally. During this operation the shavingblade 18 on the top of the core shaves off the rib or ribs on the insideof the plate, leaving the interior surfaces of these ribs in the form ofa perfect cylindrical surface. By this means it will be seen that only asmall body of metal is being removed at any one time. Consequently,little power is required. Furthermore, the operation of removing theplate from the mold also causes the plate to be shared on the interiorand brought to a proper diameter for fitting the printing plate cylinderof the press. The shavings from this operation pass down the conicalupper end of the core and out through the central passage therethroughso that they are taken care of by gravity.

The reason for extending the casting bar up above the top of the moldwill be seen from what has been stated as it causes the plate to be heldagainst rotation even when it rests on the top of the core as indicatedin Fig. 6.

It will be seen that the matrix and pouring sheet are raised from themold with the plate, and consequently, during the shaving operation, theplate is still backed up by the pouring sheet and matrix and the typesurface of the plate never comes into contact with a metallic holdingsurface during the entire shaving operation but remains in con tact withthe matrix against which it was ast. Th all ha ce of i juring the plateon its printing surface is eliminated. The pouring sheet and matrix areremoved by the operator at the proper time.

As soon as the plate is entirely raised from the casting box so that itrests on top of the core as shown in Fig. 6 and in dotted lines in Fig.l, the operator pulls the chain it? and then the constantly rotatingworm gear imparts its rotation to the hub 36 and shaft 48. This causesthe tail cutter to rotate around the plate one revolution and sever theslug. The slug is then held by the hooks 57 until the plate is removedfrom beneath it. It will be understood that while the plate is risingthe tail enters the guidering and the tail cutter registers with thespace a on the plate and is left in position to encircle the plate fromthat point and re move the slug. At the end of a complete revolution theflange 39 on the top of the pin 37 again encounters the cam 40 whichafter being released by the hand of the operator automatically springsback to operative position.

It will be seen, therefore, that by this means the plate is removed fromthe mold without separating the parts of the mold and consequentlywithout any hand operation. I am aware of the fact however, that thecore can be rotated by hand to eject the plate, and even to shave itwithout departing from the scope of this invention. During the ejectionof the plate the interior is shaved to the proper cylindrical shape andsize without the loss of time, and without transferring the plate fromthe mold to a shaving machine. When the plate is completely ejected itis left in position for the tail cutting operation without any manualmanipulation of the plate and the cutting of the tail is performedautomatically after the mechanism is started. It is stopped at the endof a revolution automatically leaving the tail cutter in position forcommencing the next operation.

Another advantage of the invention con sists in the fact that the plateA is provided with internal ribs which strengthen the plate and reducethe amount of metal necessary to be removed in order to bring it to aproper cylindrical shape and size. These ribs, being substantiallycircumferential. strengthen the plate materially.

I do not claim in this application the tail cutting device and theprinting plate disclosed herein, these being claimed in divisionalapplications Ser. Nos. 344L23 and 344.235, filed Dec. 11, 1919.

Although I have illustrated and described only a single form of theinvention and shown the machine as being driven by power I am aware ofthe fact that many modifications can be made therein and that it can beoperated by hand and applied to other kinds. of castings ithoutdeparting from the l. I"; G

scope of the invention as expressed in the claims. Therefore, I do notWish to be limited in these respects, but What I do claim is l. A corefor a stereotype plate casting box having a helical groove on its outersurface for guiding the cast plate therefrom.

2. A cylindrical stereotype plate casting box having a cylindrical coreprovided with a guidinggroove on its outer surface, for guiding the castplate out of the box.

3. A casting box for a stereotype plate having a cylindrical coreprovided with an external helical groove, said core and box beingrelatively rotatable.

4. A casting box for a stereotype plate havin a cylindrical coreprovided with an external helical groove, said core and box beingrelatively rotatable on a central longi tndinal axis, the box havingmeans for preventing a cast plate therein from rotating with relation tothe box, and means for guiding the cast plate out of the boxlongitudinally, whereby upon relative rotation of the core and box, theplate will be discharged therefrom.

5. A stereotype plate casting box provided with means for holding amatrix and means for ejecting a cast plate and the matrix together fromthe box, and keeping the matrix in contact with the plate during theejection.

6. A stereotype plate casting box having acore and provided with meansfor holding a matrix and means for ejecting a cast plate and the matrixtogether from the box in longitudinal direction.

7 The combination with a casting box, of a core movable therein, andmeans whereby a casting produced between the box and. core can beejected by motion of the core in the box and the matrix will be ejectedwith the casting but will remain in contact with both the plate and boxduring the ejection to back up the plate.

8. The combination with a stereotype plate casting box, of a corerotatably mounted therein, ,and means for moving a cast plate on thecore in a direction parallel to the axis of the core when the core isrotated.

9. The combination with a stereotype plate casting box of cylindricalform, of a core therein having a helical groove throughout its exteriorsurface, means for preventing the rotation of a cast plate in the boxand for guiding it to move longitudinally, and means for rotating saidcore for the purpose of ejecting the cast plate from the box.

10. In a stereotype plate casting device, the combination with acastingbox having a cylindrical casting space therein, and a cylindrical corerotatable on its own axis in the box, said core having a helical grooveon its outer'surface, of means for holding a plate cast in said spaceand a matrix against rotation in the box but permitting them to slidelongitudinally, and means for rotating said core to eject the plate andmatrix.

11. In a stereotype plate casting device, the combination With a castingbox having a cylindrical casting space therein, and a cylindrical corerotatable on its own axis in the box, said core having a helical grooveon its outer surface, of means for holding a cast plate and a matrixagainst rotation in the box but permitting them to slide longitudinally,means for rotating said core to eject the plate and matrix, and meansfor shaving the interior of the plate as it is ejected from the castingbox.

12. The combination with a casting box for a stereotype plate and acylindrical core provided with an external helical groove, said core andbox being relatively rotatable, of means for preventing the cast platefrom rotating with relation to the boxand means for guiding the castplate out of the box longitudinally, whereby upon relative rotation ofthe core and box, the plate will be discharged therefrom, and means forshaving the interiorof the cast plate as it is ejected from the castingbox.

13., The combination with a casting box for producing a substantiallycylindrical stereotypeprinting plate, of means for ejecting a cast platelongitudinally from the box, and means for shaving the interior of theplate as it is ejected from the box.

14. The combination with a casting box, of means for ejecting a castplate from the box, and means located within the box for shaving theplate as it is ejected from the box.

15. The combination with a casting box having a cylindrical innersurface for backing up a plate cast therein, of means for ejecting aplate cast in said casting box, and means for shaving the interiorsurface of the plate while the outersurface of said plate opposite saidshaving means is in contact with said surface.

16. The combination with a casting box having a cylindrical innersurface for back ing up a plate cast therein, of means for shaving theinterior surface of the plate while the outer surface of said plateopposite said shaving means is in contact with said surface. i

17. The combination with a cylindrical casting box, of means therein forcasting a helical rib on the inner surfaceof a plate, and means forshaving said rib by a relative motion in a helical direction between theshaving means and the plate.

18. The combination with a cylindrical A casting box, of means thereinfor casting a helical rib on the inner surface of a; plate, means for eecting the plate, and means for shaving said rib by a relative motion ina horizontal and circumferential direction be tween the shaving meansant the plate while the plate is being ejected.

19. The combination with casting box for casting a cylindricalstereotype printing plate, and a core therein having a helical groove onits exterior surface for producing a helical rib on the interior of theplate, means for rotating said core on its axis for ejecting the platefrom the casting box, means for preventing the plate from rotating, andmeans carried by the core for shav ing said rib in a helical directionas the plate is ejected.

20. The combination with a casting box, and a core therein rotatablymounted, of a shaving blade fixed on the core for shaving the interiorof a plate produced between the core and box.

21. The combination with a mold having a plurality of parts, and meansmounted on one of said parts for shaving the interior of a castingformed in the mold as the cast ing is being moved out of the mold.

522. The combination with a casting box having an inner surface againstwhich a stereotype printing plate is adapted to be cast, of means forholding a cast plate and a matrix therein and preventing their rotationin the box but permitting them to move out of the box, of means forshaving the interior of the cast plate while the matrix is moving alongthe surface or the box.

23. The combination of a cylincrlcal wall having means for holding amatrix in position therein and permitting it to move longitudinally butpreventing it from rotating, of means for moving a cast plate and thematrix along said wall, and means for shaving the interior of the platewhile the matrix is in contact with said wall and the plate in contactwith the matrix.

2a. The combination with a cylindrical casting box, and a cylindricalcore therein, of means whereby a plate cast between said box and corecan be ejected therefrom axially, and means carried by the core forshaving the interior of the cast plate as it is being ejected.

The combination with a cylindrical casting box, and a cyl d lcal coretherein, of means for ejecting a plate cast between said box and core,means carried by the core for sharing the interior of the cast plate asit is being ejected, a mr rix bar carried by the box and constituti. aguide for the cast plate, said matrix bar e tending beyond the end ofthe casting box and core to hold the plate after it is ejected.

26. The combination with a cylindrical casting box, and a cylindricalcore therein, of means whereby a plate cast between said box and corecan be ejected therefrom axially, a matrix bar carried by the box andconstituting a guide for the cast plate, said matrix bar extendingbeyond the end of the casting box, and means for cutting the tail fromthe plate while held by the projecting end of said matrix bar andlocated at the end of said box.

27. The combination with a vertical cast ing box and a vertical coretherein, of means whereby a plate cast between said box and core can beejected therefrom axially, means carried by the core for shaving theinterior of the cast plate as it is being ejected, a matrix bar carriedby the box and constituting a guide for the cast plate, said matrix barextending beyond the end of the casting box and core to hold the plateafter it is ejected, and means beyond the end of the casting box forcutting the tail from the plate while held by the projecting end of saidcasting box and located at the end of said box.

28. The combination with a vertical castbox and a rotatable coretherein, of means for rotating said core and ejecting a cast plate fromthe box, means for simultaneously shaving out the interior of the plate,and means connected with said rotating means for cutting the tail fromthe plate after it has been ejected.

29. The combination with a vertical casting box, of a shaft, meansconnected with said shaft for ejecting a cast plate axially from thecasting box and leaving it supported on the top thereof, means on thetop of the casting box for preventing the plate from turning, a tailcutter mounted above the casting box, and means connected with saidshaft for rotating said cutter on its own axis and also rotating itabout the axis of the plate while said plate is supported at the top ofthe casting box.

30. The combination with a core for easting, of a blade mounted on thecore for finishing the casting formed against the core.

31. In a casting device, the combination with a core having a helicalgroove on its outer surface, of means supported in alineme-nt therewithfor rotating said core.

32. In a casting device, the combination with a core having a helicalgroove on its outer surface, of means for rotating said core, andretaining it in its position longitudinally to eject the castingproduced.

33. As an article of manufacture, a core for a casting mold having adepression on its outer surface for receiving chips from a finishingdevice.

34. As an article of manufacture, a convex core for a casting moldhaving a plurality of depressions on its convex surface all parallelwith each other and a depression for receiving chips from a finishingdevice.

85. The combination with a circular stereotype mold, of a matrixrotatably mounted therein.

36. The combination with a stereotype plate mold, of a matrix therefor,and means for removing the matrix from the mold by a helical motion.

37. The combination with a cylindrical stereotype plate mold, of meansfor removingla matrix from one end thereof longitudinal The combinationwith a stereotype plate mold, of means for removing the cast platetherefrom in a lengthwise direction.

39. The combination with a stereotype plate mold, of means for removingthe cast plate therefrom in a lengthwise direction, and simultaneouslyturning the plate on its axis.

40. The combination with a stereotype plate casting mold, of meanslocated outside the mold for removing a cast plate therefrom in alongitudinal direction.

41. The combination with a tubular castfor causingthe rotary motion tomove the casting longitudinally.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

HENRY A. WISE WOOD.

Witnesses:

BLoDWEN W. JONES, L. LLOYD.

